In 2011 my Ex Wife and I finalized our divorce. As we parted ways my then three year old daughter Hailey and my four year old son Collin stayed with my Ex and I left to pursue a career in the Army. In those first years my Ex in what I can only assume in an effort to punish me made it incredibly difficult to participate in my kids lives. This ranged but certainly wasn't limited to hanging up when I called to talk to them; she would remove my names from gifts I sent and replace them with her new husbands; she would punish the kids if they didn't refer to him as "Dad"; and would even take the kids out of town when she knew I had leave. This continued to escalate even to the point the police had to intervein to enforce the parenting plan so I could see my kids on Christmas Eve. I still remember when my daughter was six she showed me a picture of me she hung up in her closet behind her dresser because her mother would make her take down any pictures of me she saw.
Over the years things seemed to improve a little; but I think that was mainly due to the kids becoming more observant and I stopped trying to fight her in fear she would cut me out of their lives entirely.
This past summer I PCS'd (military move) from Anchorage, Alaska to Tampa, Florida. Along the way I stopped to see my kids in Missouri. To the surprise of EVERYONE my daughter had packed up her entire room before we got there and asked to come with me. It absolutely killed me inside that I could say "YES" right on the spot; but ultimately the decision wasn't mine to make. My Ex legally had physical custody and she would have to agree. She responded by bribing my daughter with the bunny she had been saying no to for the past year.
I finally reached my limit two weeks ago. I received word that my daughter was admitted to the hospital. I dropped everything and drove thirteen hundred miles to be by her side. I was met with a cold shoulder and disgust from my Ex who said my daughter didn't want to see me. I continued to press the issue and insisted on speaking to the hospital. When I finally got a hold of my daughter two days later I found out she never said those things. In fact my Ex never even told her I was there. When my daughter was finally discharged my Ex was waiting at the hospital and picked her up before I had a chance to get there. I immediately texted my Ex asking to meet them for lunch. I didn't receive a reply for almost SIX hours. It read: "I can't just respond when you want me to. She'll call you later." When my daughter finally called it was 8:30 that night. I spoke to her just long enough to hear about the full day of shopping she spent with her Mom before she rushed off the phone to get ready for bed.
I'm worried about my kids emotional well being. I also want them to know and love both of their parents. I'm not trying to destroy their relationship with their mom. I want to fight my Ex for custody but I'm anticipating a mountain of legal and travel fees. I don't want to start this fight and put my kids through all of this if I'm not sure I can win. That's where you all come in! Please donate if not for me then do it for all the fathers that are trying to stick around and be a part of their kids lives.
In the event court proceedings don't get drawn out all raised un used funds will go into a college fund for my kids. I just want the best for my kids!!!